The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has announced a postponement of its planned nationwide strike, now set to commence on December 2, due to ongoing unresolved issues with the government.
In a statement released over the weekend by ASUP’s National President, Comrade Kpanja Shammah, the union urged the government to utilize this additional time to demonstrate its commitment by thoroughly addressing the action plan related to the eleven points of contention. Failure to do so may lead to a complete withdrawal of services by the union.
On October 7, ASUP issued a 15-day ultimatum to the Proprietors of Public Polytechnics and Colleges of Technology, which arose from a review of the sector’s situation during the union’s 111th National Executive Council (NEC) meeting.
The ultimatum outlined eleven specific demands from the government. ASUP announced the postponement following a resolution meeting convened by the Federal Ministry of Education on October 23, 2024, aimed at resolving the contentious issues within the sector.
During the meeting in Abuja, stakeholders reached a series of resolutions and developed an action plan addressing various concerns, including abuses of existing laws and regulations by some Governing Councils of Federal Polytechnics, welfare issues for academic staff, and the intrusion of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) into the responsibilities of Academic Boards regarding Higher National Diploma (HND) student admissions.
Other significant points included the revitalization of infrastructure through NEEDS ASSESSMENT interventions, the non-implementation of promotions in state institutions, and the payment of outstanding salary review arrears for federal polytechnics and colleges. Additional items included addressing CONTISS 15 migration arrears, ensuring the continuation of the 7% Peculiar Academic Allowance following the exit from IPPIS, renegotiating the 2010 FGN/ASUP agreement, and settling outstanding third-party deductions.
Following the stakeholders’ meeting, ASUP’s NEC convened an emergency session on October 24, 2024, to assess the proposed action plan and determine the next steps for the survival of Polytechnic education in Nigeria.
After thorough discussions, the union decided to delay the planned strike until December 2, 2024, to evaluate the government’s dedication to executing the agreed-upon action plan. ASUP expressed hope that the government would effectively use this time to resolve the eleven disputes raised. The union also acknowledged the vital role of the media and other stakeholders in their ongoing struggle.
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